Method and system for providing electronic commerce and shopping via a cable television system and an associated entertainment terminal

摘要

The methods and systems of the present invention securely enable the principal functions in e-commerce, in a coherent and less complex manner when compared to existing models. It is of direct application to MSO electronic stores with one or more affiliated merchants. Advantageously, the invention can be used to enable e-commerce transactions between a merchant (135) and a consumer via an entertainment terminal (100). The entertainment terminal (100) is capable of providing a consumer with access to a selection of goods and services (140) provided by one or more merchant(s) (135) via a merchant transaction server (150). The invention offers the existing base of cable system operators an alternate avenue to control e-commerce, facilitate per-transaction tracking and/or revenue collection and monitoring.